tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59360631014763454162012-02-10T23:30:38.323+09:00achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.comBlogger2571100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-41728524121809427612012-02-07T09:35:00.000+09:002012-02-07T09:35:21.799+09:00

Today is a horribly wet and windy day, the kind of day that you choose to stay at home and veg. Added to the bad weather I have a sick five year old, he possibly has influenza but he's not too bad so I am not taking him to the doctors where everyone else does. The chance of me getting it then would be really high and growing baby and I don't need a dose of vomiting, high fever and unwellness,

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-73588987468709989032012-02-02T12:29:00.000+09:002012-02-02T15:56:05.343+09:00

... because Umebossy asked. snow discoveries pajama days clean bathrooms hot soup & crusty bread progress siblings who love being with one another kindy teachers breaking the ice on the pool for the kids to play with : )

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-80428383673389168202012-02-01T16:56:00.000+09:002012-02-02T15:56:25.784+09:00

Capturing the moment of 'me right now' when I read the prompt for this weeks Gallery. Yep I was eating dinner!! It said take a picture now!! so I did. My daughter used to say "Mummy you are always sitting in front of the computer", now she says "Mummy you're always using your iPhone"!! There's no denying it. To be honest though I am always hanging out to see what the prompt will

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-67374409860326880342012-01-30T13:31:00.001+09:002012-01-30T14:28:04.131+09:00

Our kids are provided with a hot lunch at kindy and school everyday which we pay a small few for. It makes life so much easier for me especially when Miss Sunshine is out the door at 7.10am. Kindy has Friday's designated as bring your own lunch day to encourage the kids to appreciate mum/or whoever prepares the meals hard work. When Miss Sunshine was at kindy it was every Friday but recently

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-48196008101502843502012-01-28T22:07:00.000+09:002012-01-30T12:31:56.995+09:00

Lamingtons Thursday was Australia Day and while I don't live close enough to attend any official celebrations here in Japan I try to do something with my kids to mark the day. There is so much I want to share with them, Australia is such a wonderful country but they are still so young that they couldn't comprehend it all. Freedom of expression, religion, political opinion, movement,

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-24021304294969326882012-01-26T08:25:00.001+09:002012-01-26T08:31:41.260+09:00

We've all heard of New Years Resolutions but a Photography Resolution?? That is the theme for this weeks Gallery. Up until now I have taken the majority of my digital photos on one of two cameras, both Panasonic Luminix's. Even though this is a basic instant digital camera it can take great photos. I have been tickled pink when people have previously commented on my photos. I like to take time

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-82552547309865498972012-01-24T22:16:00.000+09:002012-01-25T09:22:13.670+09:00

Miss Sunshine attended a Japanese playgroup with me at a local community centre one morning a week from six months old until she started kindergarten at three and a half. We joined more for my benefit than hers initially. My then Japanese teacher thought it would be a great chance to speak Japanese with other young mothers and maybe even strike up some new friendships. Mr Mischief tagged along

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-19726665345885955352012-01-19T10:21:00.002+09:002012-01-19T13:34:24.203+09:00

Oh the eyes!!! This sculpture had my kids and I (not eye!!) mesmerised for ages. It's the eyes all glassy and BIG looking straight out across the concourse, looking well past us to something much further in the distance... but what we don't know. The man scrambling over a wallbyVangi A little man couldn't resist a tickle! The sculpture is called "The man scrambling

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-51535489452902267792012-01-11T15:06:00.001+09:002012-01-19T13:35:53.867+09:00

taken with Instagram Back in the saddle after a long break due to morning sickness! I took my kids to the local swamp to have a look at the migratory birds who've come to enjoy our warm winter...well warmer than where they are from anyway!!! The swamp is a natural sanctuary, in winter the reeds are dry and brown and the water clearly visible. Thousands of ducks spend their days

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-91327845235959267712012-01-11T12:31:00.000+09:002012-01-11T12:31:11.246+09:00

Apple Sharlotka I saw this on Smitten Kitchen and decided then and there that I was going to make it for my birthday, that being today!. The original photo makes it look so appealing, rich and sophisticated. Ultimately it is just an apple cake, albeit it be a Russian apple cake : ) It was so easy, chop apples, put them in a tin, pour batter on top and bake! That's all!! Mine was a little

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-13699284519205719342012-01-09T11:32:00.000+09:002012-01-11T15:11:25.129+09:00

What was your happiest event? You want to read seeing that pink little line right? Well no. Holding the subsequent baby girl in my arms come April/maybe yes but not the pink line :) My daughter telling me that she finally mastered riding her bike and then later that she could swim 'properly', and riding the roller slides with the kids : ) What was the saddest thing to happen? I spent a large

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-4311092430500769442012-01-07T11:22:00.001+09:002012-01-07T12:38:49.348+09:00

Fusion  When Aussie ingredients are mixed with Japanese ingredients. We have been spoilt over the years as my father in law worked in a small factory in Toyama that cooked rice for obentos, school lunches and made omochi. During the New Year period as you can well imagine he was at his busiest. We rarely journeyed back to their place during the holiday as they were so busy but we

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-78412821927394463532012-01-06T22:58:00.001+09:002012-01-07T12:40:15.601+09:00

No I don't mean wasted in the sense that I've drunk way too much alcohol. Though that probably would have felt better. I mean wasted as in non productive, achieved nothing and can't get back the chance to change the fact. Four months of my life I did nothing other than sleep, vomit and laze on the lounge nauseated. I struggled to look after my kids, definitely wasn't raising them in any

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-2822119740706328522011-12-14T20:50:00.001+09:002011-12-14T21:57:50.698+09:00

Tonight I had one of those moments that you usually read about in some woman's magazine, you know the family funnies columns at the back of the mag! Well at the time it wasn't funny. If there was anyone with a camera around they would have captured a pic of me as white as a ghost. It amazes me how things get lost in translation, or just in communication. With a bilingual two or three year old 

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-56692387407603209872011-11-18T13:25:00.001+09:002011-11-21T15:08:43.388+09:00

Last weekend we went mandarin picking with a group of people from church. It was the first time for us and quite strange really because the western side of Shizuoka where we live produces a large proportion of the mandarins for the Japanese market. You can either see tea fields for as far as your eye sight will let you or see orange trees of one sort or another, usually mandarin.

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-40677425968342014862011-11-18T12:17:00.001+09:002011-11-18T12:18:49.536+09:00

Do you know what this is?We found it while on a little walk last weekend amongst a pine tree, of sorts!!I must admit that I'd never seen one before butit isn't found just in Japan. I'm excited...I brought it home to my husbands dismay!!

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-72132230462076748942011-11-17T11:51:00.010+09:002011-11-18T12:05:07.033+09:00

Okay I'll be honest this one has sultanas because I didn't have any walnuts!! Carrot, Walnut and Pineapple Cake 300g plain flour (I do half wholemeal) 2t baking powder 2t baking soda 1t cinnamon 1t allspice 150g brown sugar 4 eggs, beaten 200ml vegetable or grapeseed oil 400g grated carrot (about 2 large carrots) 400g tinned pineapple (drain and chop up) 100g walnuts 1. In a large bowl

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-14610617974718916062011-11-09T13:22:00.008+09:002011-11-09T13:47:31.984+09:00

Nine years ago I took the plunge and got married.It really was a plunge,He wasn't my best friend,I'd had to give up the life that I'd known,I'd had to leave all the familiarity of my lifeand start over on the other side of the world. I wanted security,I wanted to be loved,I so I jumped. There have been great times,there have been trying times,there have been times when I thought I made the

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-91429176000345491522011-11-05T14:50:00.002+09:002011-11-05T17:12:00.837+09:00

I'll have even less free time! I'll be enjoying every morsel of food around me knowing that it won't be coming up again!! I'll be preparing first solids...again!  I'll have a crawler on my hands...again! I'll be putting things up high...again! Yes dear friends hubby had a wonderful 40th birthday earlier this year!! His present we'll be paying for for the next 20 plus years!!

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-21341537597877276612011-10-25T16:00:00.002+09:002011-10-25T16:03:31.578+09:00

My garden this week ... and the veggie patch? well they haven't realised that it isn't autumn yet, still lots of chilies, capsicums and renegade mini tomatoes!

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-66834108602415974382011-10-20T14:59:00.000+09:002011-10-20T14:59:38.815+09:00

Our Tulip group visited our local park on Monday to gather acorns.Now I've been to this park literally hundreds of times because it is big, the kids love it and I don't have to have kids with me to have an excuse to go, but I realised I really hadn't seen all it has to offer. I felt like it was going to be a long morning (boring) but when we got to the park our leader told us we were going to

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-91186438314137467432011-10-19T12:38:00.000+09:002011-10-19T12:38:21.578+09:00

Just asking? and no you will never become a jack-o-latern

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-45901752821069587402011-10-09T12:14:00.001+09:002011-10-09T12:24:18.052+09:00

Last year I stumbled across this blog post about painting your own t-shirts. Of course I bookmarked it and forgot about it until I saw another blog post by the same author this summer! This time no procrastinating we made them!! The kids had an absolute ball painting the t-shirts so much that they did it twice in one week!! The process is simple enough, though it requires lots of patience

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-81220824081020396872011-10-03T15:08:00.002+09:002011-10-09T12:10:09.177+09:00

A-Z of Me  Take 2...A different take! ANORAK…Do you have a sad side? No enough of them here in Japan without adding me! BODY…What physical attribute would you most like to change? I've always wanted different legs, mine hurt constantly from over developed calf muscles, varicose veins and a high instep. Not after beauty just no pain. CELEBRITY…Which one would you most like to date and why? I'd

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-63629139501703738552011-09-28T16:09:00.000+09:002011-09-28T16:09:28.428+09:00

Some say home is where the heart is, Some dreams are just going to have to be that now  others say home is where you lay your hat.Well that puts me in a spot.My heart is in Australia,my hat lays in Japan. The strings of my heart are being pulled,sometimes home favours the familiar, family, friends, the norm, the knowing, the understanding, past history, depth of relationships.And other times

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-19419877520166278132011-09-28T10:44:00.002+09:002011-09-28T10:50:49.597+09:00

Yesterday morning when I woke up it was pouring with rain and freezing, I was so grumpy. The dramatic change in weather since the typhoon and being a bit sick has made me utterly miserable, and then the rain this morning well that made it worse because the forecast was for SUN SUN SUN. Well I'm glad to say the day wasn't all bad because I read this post on Living the Good Life at morning tea and

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-28758462886203804152011-09-11T15:39:00.001+09:002011-09-11T15:40:20.086+09:00

My daughter is an Aussie true and through! I see my husbands dislike creeping in sometimes as he doesn't like the sarcastic Australian sense of humour and the older she gets the quicker she gets at it...Oh well!!! ......................................."Mum can I have a muffin please?" (freshly baked banana, mango and almond!) "Sure". (I struggle to get it out of the pan) "I'm sorry you can't

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-38159001068486037282011-09-07T16:56:00.001+09:002011-09-07T17:12:40.854+09:00

A tiny pair of ballet slippers,a gift for my first bornfrom a dear old friend. They were bought in Paris,ironically made in Australiafor a dear little one in Japan. "They're so big, look her tiny feet swim in them"I remember saying,so I put them away. Not for longbut just long enoughthat they'd become too small. How was I to know that the very tiny one in my armswould grow so quickly. And so my

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-76660081829154857052011-09-06T10:26:00.000+09:002011-09-06T10:26:29.086+09:00

For Mr Happy,Just because I can!

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-14520236173515869852011-09-06T10:19:00.000+09:002011-09-06T10:19:15.761+09:00

...or to smile. Found these at the corner veggie stall this morning. I'm holding onto every warm ray of sunlight and every hot moment in the day,it's not that I hate you Autumn,actually when you're here I love you,it's just thatI don't want to let go of summer.To let you in means that winter follows close behind,and I don't like winter anymore.

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-59304261645309396822011-09-04T19:37:00.001+09:002011-09-04T23:10:38.159+09:00

The first of September is Emergency preparedness day here in Japan and governments local and national hold a number of drills on or around this day to practice evacuations, disaster response and accountability. It isn't compulsory to attend but it all about being prepared so I have often found it useful. I thought that this year after the Tohoko earthquake and tsunami that more people would

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-81321272173063862292011-09-04T16:32:00.000+09:002011-09-04T16:32:43.812+09:00

I think typhoon 12 left me with water in my ears, this morning just seems to have been one thing after another! Next week is Miss Sunshine's birthday so yet again the birthday cake saga has begun. Choosing the cake design was quick this year and I am happy to say not difficult either! About time!! I want though to find a cake that the kids at her party will eat as I end up eating the majority,

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-77334486456616303592011-08-31T16:54:00.004+09:002011-08-31T23:17:30.451+09:00

.. I love taking pictures of small animals, actually really small animals.It was really hard to choose a picture for todays theme as I have countless pics ofcatipillars, dragon flies, butterflies, cicadas, spiders, praying mantis, rhinoccerous beatles,  lady bugs.... So many that today I actually thought I'll start a Flickr folder of little creatures!! I know its no everyone cup of tea,

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-51771084872624723942011-08-31T07:40:00.000+09:002011-08-31T07:40:17.520+09:00

Door A round hut at the Stone Museum in Gifu prefecture, Japan Take a look at this weeks Snapshots from Around the World.Where are you from?

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-79046103429890098572011-08-30T17:29:00.001+09:002011-08-30T17:45:11.101+09:00

Somedays I have great time management skills, I can get a lot done in a really short time (usually the computer isn't turned on and there are no kids around!!). Most days however I remember my mothers words "it's not going to run away, it will be there tomorrow"! so I end up heeding her advice! Thanks mum! Somedays I get the chance to have a great one on one catch up with friends, well with the

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-54490057087929300832011-08-27T13:46:00.003+09:002011-08-27T14:13:15.723+09:00

  Discover a new far away place on Expat blog hop

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-52017619664608950312011-08-24T17:45:00.001+09:002011-08-24T17:58:06.403+09:00

Hands On a visit to Senso temple in Asasuka earlier in the year as a part of Miss Sunshine's kindy graduation trip she chanced her fortune and got an omikuji .We are practicing Christians and I never do thisbut I need my daughter to understand where I come from so she along with her friends paid their100 yen (about a dollar!) and sort out their fortunes. There are about 100 different canisters

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-63618324363138634892011-08-20T13:31:00.002+09:002011-08-21T14:06:05.602+09:00

A candid picture of my mumtaken in a photo booth in the late 1960'sprobably long before she met my dad. While the original photo is so clear I need some practice with scanning!! Take a look at the Gallery for some more Black and White shots

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-79644361834348634582011-08-19T23:50:00.000+09:002011-08-19T23:50:50.570+09:00

Another 'Only in Japan' product!Menthol Shock by JT.All I can say is "What were they thinking?"A soft drink to invigorate?The hot humid summer is one thing but this is another.Think of Dencorub with fizz !! Okay I bought it, I know!!but I got it at the supermarket where its half the price of the convenience store!!Still it was 88 yen wasted!! Okay I'm a sucker for new products!! Actually I've

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-38685598828833925442011-08-19T23:13:00.002+09:002011-08-20T13:43:14.457+09:00

Tile The tiles on the fence around the perimeter of the Kamo Palace.Take a look at more of my photos from this beautiful Iris garden here. Visit Snapshots Around the World for more snaps of Tiles!

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-38119121738699307572011-08-11T00:24:00.001+09:002011-08-11T00:33:07.318+09:00

On Monday we visited the Hamanako Garden Park.The park is actually the site of the 2004 International Flora Festival,or Hamamatsu Hana Haku as it was called in Japanese.Take a look at it thenI can't believe I took Miss Sunshine there with my parents when she was just three weeks old!! While many of the pavilions have been removed and the gardens scaled back there is still lots to see and do.There

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5Lake Hamana34.7331499 137.576666134.6707294 137.5068381 34.7955704 137.6464941tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-39017702685522058672011-08-10T16:32:00.001+09:002011-08-10T17:28:16.046+09:00

Water the main stay of lifefor healthfor vitalityand for FUN! While we have a small pool my kids love nothing better than running under the hose playing London Bridge is falling down. The laughter is contagious,can you hear them? Take a look at the Gallery

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-47068354743058872022011-08-10T00:52:00.001+09:002011-08-10T00:56:19.182+09:00

The summer festival at our kindy is called Yusuzumikai. The name conjours up the idea of a party in the cool evening giving people the chance to refresh from the summer heat. Funnily enough it starts at 4pm when the sun is still beaming down hard and strong, there's nothing 'refreshing' about it!! My husband always has a chuckle when he hears the word 'yusuzumikai'!! The kids all look forward to

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-58413895434281965202011-08-09T17:19:00.002+09:002011-08-09T17:44:49.903+09:00

Somedays I wish I knew my husband better, most days I wish he knew me. Somedays I get the chance to have an incredible time with two of my kids, most days though it is three and that means a lot more prep and thought is required for each and every action.  Somedays I just have to let go but most days I don't want to. Somedays I say "I'll never like that" or "I'll never do that" but most days I

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-27255514254584013822011-08-09T16:27:00.000+09:002011-08-09T16:27:31.694+09:00

We've just gone more than two weeks without Internet. For me it was a difficult time because that is how I have my contact with people, here and back home. We're still unsure why or how we lost or Internet connection but the conspiracy theorist that I am believes that it was intentional by our Internet provider. You see for months now we've been getting three or four phone calls a week from our

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-27208909121898648192011-08-07T17:02:00.001+09:002011-08-07T17:02:38.958+09:00

Cucummbers, shishitou, capsicums and now chilis. This is todays picking, the first of the season and there'll be the same amount every second day for about a month. To think that I only bought one pot!Now what to do with them???Want some?

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-87438042258552038122011-07-26T22:09:00.001+09:002011-07-26T22:16:08.704+09:00

Somedays I love organising events which celebrate my culture but most days I couldn't be bothered because no-one else shares my enthusiasm or appreciates the significance of the day. Somedays I want to sleep and sleep and sleep, but most days I am up before the birds thanks to children who have reset my bodyclock! Somedays I like to visit new places, most days it scares me silly trying to think

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-30433568772421273282011-07-26T21:37:00.002+09:002011-07-27T12:23:26.626+09:00

Gee Mondays come around quickly!!! Short and sweet this week as I'm on my own with lots to do! This weeks meals 1. Foccacia with tomato, grilled zucchini, Parmesan cheese and shishito 2. Nikujaga (braised beef in potatoes and onions), tempura veggies (potatoes, shishito, okra, shiso, zucchini, eggplant), omelet and 6 bean rice 3. Curry and rice (I'm basically going to do this one again as it

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-51915218789710466552011-07-21T23:31:00.002+09:002011-07-21T23:38:39.124+09:00

It's hard to admit that you're at fault sometimes and other times it's plain embarrassing. This week I journeyed far beyond these emotions. On Monday evening I found myself in the emergency department of our local hospital frantically trying to explain myself to the staff member on reception. He went into a state of panic when I said I couldn't read the kanji (Chinese characters) on the forms and

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-53941035443763877742011-07-21T11:28:00.000+09:002011-07-21T11:28:25.265+09:00

the pretty   A vase found under my grandmothers house about 25 years ago.Who knows how long it had been there! I presume it had no sentimental value to herbut I love the shapeand when it holds flowersits the vase that is the focal point. I loved having this vase filled with daisies sitting on my dressing table,which was my grandmothers, when I was at home.So simple but fresh and

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-30762692681025281852011-07-21T00:23:00.001+09:002011-07-21T00:26:15.803+09:00

Last year I picked up a raspberry plant at the home center. It had a tag on it 'one coin' raspberry, meaning it was 500 yen. I thought it was cheap so picked it up and planted it in the middle of the front yard where I had always planned on growing some berries (full sun and not near the kids!). It grew and grew and grew. I was quite surprised at how fast it tripled in size. In spring it got

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-6283646908039453022011-07-20T23:05:00.001+09:002011-07-20T23:34:24.894+09:00

Some days and some weeks are so busy that the days pass so quickly with little time for breathing...most days involve the regular daily grind and a slower than slow pace. Some days I type directly directly onto my blog...most days I write my thoughts onto old fashion paper then type them up at a more convenient time. Some days I am surprised by how much my son has started speaking...most days I

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-15516755636633398962011-07-20T21:39:00.002+09:002011-07-20T22:34:09.327+09:00

It's been a very busy week here and I'm hoping the start of the summer break from Friday lunch will give some time to slow down. I hope I don't get into the habit of posting everything so late!! Thanks to all the suggestions for better pizza last week, I'm going to give them ago in the hols. I'd also like to make my own pizza sauce as we have so many tomatoes, shishito, capsicums and eggplants

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-26731825545634569372011-07-13T21:07:00.002+09:002011-07-13T21:12:49.068+09:00

I Still Call Australia Homeby Peter AllenI've been to cities that never close down, From New York to Rio and old London town,But no matter how far or how wide I roam,I still call Australia home. I'm always trav'lin',And I love being free,And so I keep leaving the sun and the sea,But my heart lies waiting — over the foam.I still call Australia home.All the sons and daughters spinning 'round the

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-9352865603245323642011-07-13T10:16:00.000+09:002011-07-13T10:16:38.389+09:00

It's the small things that keep me going each day,they're usually quite sentimental too. This morning when I was wiping the table after breakfast(the kids clear their own plates)I found this,a small note written on a scrap of paperwhere Miss Sunshine sat. Gochisousama-"thanks for breakfast" It made me smile, actually I'm still smiling. ...it's the small things

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-76900138426938496222011-07-11T23:19:00.002+09:002011-07-11T23:22:36.912+09:00

Can anyone tell me how to make pizza? Of all the food in the world I can not make a good pizza. I used to blame it on the oven, well I can no longer do that since we have a new oven!! My bases are never crispy, they always look rawish but they're not raw. There's never any left but that doesn't mean that they were yummy that just means the kids were hungry!! I could start blaming it on the bread

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-73035474413587104762011-07-11T12:30:00.002+09:002011-07-11T16:32:53.642+09:00

Not a big milestone for many but I am amazed that I've been able to string 200 posts together. Equally amazed that people read them and over the moon that people comment. I'd love to hear more of your thoughts because for me it's a great way of learning. Thankyou for joining me on my journey. So in celebration of 200 posts I'm going to open my heart and tell you 200 things about me that you

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-9419059218401920342011-07-06T23:18:00.002+09:002011-07-07T00:06:10.237+09:00

When we finally did get to have the sports day at school I had a great time, oh and the kids did too!!The fact that it was postponed four days in a row rather than being cancelled and rescheduled due to the typhoon really made me angry but the smiles on the kids faces made up for it. They had all practiced so much to make it just perfect that it would have been a shame not to have it at all (and

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-35486065310821842992011-07-06T22:59:00.001+09:002011-07-06T23:04:18.315+09:00

Grandparents hold a special place in every child's heart. There love is bountiful, discipline a little lax, routines out the window, they have a  seemingly bottomless wallet and they go against most mums rules. Time together is about sharing and maximising every minute available. Unfortunately our kids don't get to see their grandparents that often. Their Japanese grandparents obaachan and

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-8120913217628438042011-07-05T16:58:00.001+09:002011-07-05T17:40:52.492+09:00

Some days I wish my kids hated Vegemite so that I didn't have to share, most days I love that they love it, something that only comes from being an Aussie. Some days I wish goonja and goseija and the other go's were never invented, most days though they inspire my boys to come out with the most amazing role plays, conversations and physical jumps. Some days, like today, I hate going to the

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-34890234012209468202011-07-05T13:23:00.002+09:002011-07-05T18:17:03.903+09:00

Hubby along with millions of others throughout the country for the next three months will work Saturdays and Sundays and have Thursdays and Fridays as his weekend. It feels strange to have him at home while the kids are at school, and the kids home while he's at work. Our Sunday family lunches at a restaurant are now gone, and so too are our 'light meals' as everyone needs to be well fed for the

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-30065340446867960442011-06-28T23:01:00.000+09:002011-06-28T23:01:55.191+09:00

Somedays the responsibility of being a parent is overwhelming. Most days though I am able to take each challenge as it comes. Somedays my daughter brings me to tears because I can't relieve the raging fear inside her. Most days I am able to bring her the comfort she needs. Somedays I wish we lived closer to my family so that my kids could play with their only cousin more often, most days I am

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-65810613397839821862011-06-28T16:09:00.002+09:002011-06-28T16:15:28.773+09:00

I'll be at 7/11buying more of these.... Bitter orange and chili pepper chocolate covered biscuit sticks Cinnamon and black pepper chocolate covered biscuit sticks Marketed as the perfect accompaniment to alcohol Personally I don't think that the alcohol is necessary,but I'll have some if you're offering!I munched through a box before lunch! They are really refreshing, especially when

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-57337473490118739422011-06-27T23:14:00.000+09:002011-06-27T23:14:05.442+09:00

Honey Glazed Chicken I found the original recipe here atThe English KitchenI'll be going back to this blog to see what other yummy things I can make!Serves 41/2 cup flour1/2 tsp chili powder 4 Chicken Maryland's (leg plus thigh)1/2 C melted butter (I used less than this)1/4 C brown sugar 1/4C honey 1/4C vinegar1 T soy sauce1 1/2 tsp curry powder (I used koma) 1. Mix flour, salt and chili pepper

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-13923202869127601892011-06-27T22:39:00.004+09:002011-06-28T07:38:04.214+09:00

On Friday we had our new fridge delivered. It is so big that it is going to take a while to get used to using. The drawer for the freezer is deep and I can see that things are going to end up stacked up on top of one another before to long. I am going to have to find someway of organising it so things don't get lost!! The main fridge on the other hand doesn't seem any bigger than our old fridge,

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-29473535363568104582011-06-22T15:04:00.002+09:002011-06-22T16:18:55.401+09:00

Got ya back! Mr Happy was so excited when he picked up his first crab in a rock pool."Gotcha !" "Got ya back"The tiny thing held on with great might,he wasn't going to let go,all the shaking in the world wasn't going to release his grip. Not a single tear just the look of 'what's happening?'He'd pull it off one fingeronly for it to grab a hold of a different finger,on the other hand. Then like

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-80699447273815495042011-06-21T20:21:00.000+09:002011-06-21T20:21:22.630+09:00

Japanese guy lover of Aussie girlAussie girl lover of JapanJapanese colleague lover of ItalyJapanese colleague lover of France Caring bossFrazzled mummyMid life crisis subordinate Strangely single co-worker Lover of beerLover of foodLover of ItalianLover of French Bottles of wineMexican quesadillas Homemade Tiramisu, biscottiHandmade baguette, chicken in red wine Overly drunkOverly fullOverly

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-14511700350071908372011-06-21T18:57:00.001+09:002011-06-21T18:59:09.439+09:00

Somedays I put my feet up and listen to the sound of silence, most days though are constantly filled with noise. Somedays I wonder what this life of mine is all about, most days I am thankful for the gifts the Lord has blessed me with. Somedays I want to write and write, most days I find it difficult to string a logical sentence together. Somedays I put on stockings, a dress, makeup and do my

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-4839266964607793822011-06-20T13:48:00.005+09:002011-06-20T22:39:24.522+09:00

Typing my menus out each week rather than jotting them down on the back of the shopping list has started presenting me with a few problems. Firstly I find that I have been over planning and by the end of the week I have two sometimes three meals that we haven't eaten. For one reason or another I make something totally different, something light or we don't eat. On Sundays for example we always

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-57377142515571710382011-06-16T13:51:00.002+09:002011-06-16T13:56:05.951+09:00

Not their dad but my dad,Grand dador Poppy as we call him  I miss my dad more than anyone else. I was glad that he was willing and able to spend some quality time with my kids last year,especially doing things that we can't,like mowing the lawnand using the blower. I remember mowing the lawn with my dad when I was little just as Mr Mischief is in that picture.He had such a great time,they had

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-3021114592810718272011-06-13T21:56:00.004+09:002011-06-13T22:33:51.905+09:00

Yep my friend is here ans as predicted my plan went out the window!! It wasn't because we were out at night but rather I just didn't want to cook after socialising!! I also couldn't find the right fish and since I am not really a fish person I had no idea of what to substitute. I made the chicken korma for the first time from this recipe. My daughter said she didn't like it but that is because

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-85897295481981365232011-06-10T08:39:00.000+09:002011-06-10T08:39:02.079+09:00

There are certain small things in life that are important to each and everyone of us but these things aren't necessarily important to the next person (behaviours, attitudes etc). Our opinions and beliefs related to these things are developed over time and are defined by our upbringing, values and morals. I'd like to share some of the things that are important to me.  There is a cultural obsession

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-35641269686109304702011-06-08T15:14:00.001+09:002011-06-08T15:20:46.161+09:00

Last weeks little down pour couldn't have come at a worse time for the kindy kids. Thursday was the day that they planned to harvest their little plot of potatoes with the help of some kindy mums, including me and Mr Happy my shadow! The rain was teaming down at 6am when we got the call that it was postponed until the following day, not surprising because it had been teaming down for two and a

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-40608798529122479562011-06-07T16:18:00.002+09:002011-06-07T16:29:39.564+09:00

Thanks to Lulu for thinking up this lovely idea. Why don't you join in? Somedays I don't mind helping the boys catch slaters, most days though they give me the creeps. Somedays I count down the hours til bedtime, most days I wish there were more hours in the day to spend with my kids. Somedays I wish I worked outside of the house, most days I wonder how people actually manage to do it and

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-84876820696638950182011-06-06T21:49:00.003+09:002011-06-07T17:49:32.792+09:00

This week and next week I have a friend staying with us from Australia. We were roomates 12 years ago and have been friends ever since. She always comes and stays with us when she's in town and we juggle visiting old friends and stuffing ourselves silly, usually on nama cream daifuku!! That said I don't think that everything that I plan this week will get made, if it doesn't then I'll just carry

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-56938034113462505272011-06-04T21:31:00.001+09:002011-06-04T21:38:49.154+09:00

What do you do on days when it is teaming down rain? Staying inside, especially with a young child/ren may test you patience to no end but basically you just have to put up with it because it isn't their fault that it is raining and they don't like being stuck inside just like you! Since Japan has quite a large number of rainy days I prepared a box of 'Rainy Day Things To Do' and it only comes

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-24882369215092391632011-06-01T16:22:00.002+09:002011-06-01T16:28:36.041+09:00

being able to choose to be at home and raise my children.I know there are many women who would love to be at SAHM but financially can't. There's nothing like being wanted by your 4 year old son to help build a train network. Not quite as efficient as the shinkansen though! It sure beats doing the cleaning on a dreary Wednesday afternoon. Others are grateful for... What are you grateful for?

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-37673070381400979732011-06-01T13:48:00.002+09:002011-06-01T15:46:16.953+09:00

Okay late is better than never right?   Right?I think my entire week is going to be one day late this week as the school sports day threw a spanner in my weekly routine. So yesterdays shopping was done today and so begins my food week. This week we are eatingRissoles, salad and riceNikujaga (broiled beef in potatoes and onions), mixed bean rice and something!!!ヒレKatsu (crumbed fillet pork), 

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-83166085215391456832011-05-30T16:54:00.000+09:002011-05-30T16:54:18.979+09:00

Have you ever seen a rose like this?

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-60386936412388411022011-05-30T00:06:00.000+09:002011-05-30T00:06:45.925+09:00

or it typhoons. It just hasn't been my weekend this weekend. Months and months ago I planned and paid for a weekend away in Tokyo at a luxurious private hotel with a bunch of other women who happen to be married to Japanese blokes. I was so excited, finally I could meet up with a number of woman who I have meet thru blogging and through the organisation. I could relax in a big hotel for two

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-35504744072952265882011-05-27T13:43:00.002+09:002011-05-27T13:48:34.092+09:00

How do you teach a child the gift of giving?How do you teach a child that in giving there should be no expectation of receiving something in return?I don't know. Why do you give? Why do I give?  Maybe that's where the answer lies.I love to see the surprise on someones face. I like that they know someone else is thinking about them even when they may think no-one is.I suppose I love the thanks

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-73932798617838504222011-05-27T11:37:00.001+09:002011-05-27T11:39:49.307+09:00

Hotou I don't claim to be an expert on Hotou. Actually I've never even eaten the real stuff from Yamanashi prefecture. Hubby decided one night long ago that he wanted to eat Hotou for dinner so he searched for a recipe on line, bought the ingredients and cooked us dinner. That is my only experience of the hearty dish and it was a great one. It appears on our menu quite regularly. The key is the

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-22634647942269694842011-05-25T17:30:00.004+09:002011-05-30T00:07:47.588+09:00

Literally! from way down there ... and way up here If you asked me where I would like to be,other than in Australia of course,this would be my answer.My oasis,my own little world away from everything else,but of course still in ears reach of "MUUUUUUUUUUUUUM"!!! It's not big, it's not grand,it's a work in progress.A place to eat, a place to play, a place to plod.I hope to make it and the front,

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-20190573776817719552011-05-24T11:51:00.003+09:002011-05-24T16:28:45.408+09:00

I'm going to try and share my weekly menus as long as I can...actually as long as I can stay interested! This weeks seven mains!! 1. Chicken Wraps-shredded chicken, salad greens, grated carrot, cucumber, fresh pineapple, cheese, boiled egg in a tortilla. Hubby and I will have tandoori chicken. Not forgetting the beetroot!! 2. Homemade Japanese Pork Curry, rice, pickles 3. Beef/garlic stalk/

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-26260559040158862022011-05-23T16:57:00.001+09:002011-05-23T17:00:22.983+09:00

My neighbourhood, freshly cut tea bushes Take a look around the world using your fingers on Snapshots Around the World.

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-84998275970624559832011-05-20T13:00:00.004+09:002011-05-20T13:49:15.493+09:00

A number of my friends are once again talking about dinnertime and menu planning. This periodically becomes the topic of conversation probably because we're mostly housewives and mothers. It amazes me though that my friends from vastly different parts of my life seem to get back onto this topic at exactly the same time. I love getting ideas from other people on how they menu plan and what

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-35194835206197730622011-05-18T16:30:00.000+09:002011-05-18T16:30:48.993+09:00

"I gotta get out of here before they turn me into stirfry!" Mr Happy: "Mummy is that my lunch for tomorrow!"(I have to stop making  character lunches!!) Note: no vegetables were wasted in the making of this post... they will become tonights yakiniku stirfry!! Go ahead take a look at some more Moustaches!!

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-27209153627274164502011-05-14T22:14:00.001+09:002011-05-14T22:15:08.806+09:00

Our very first crop of garlic!Okay not huge in the scale of living, probably not difficult in the field of gardeningbut none the less we have our very first12 knobs of garlic.To boot they are each about 10 cm in diameter! The smell is divine,and we haven't even cooked with them yet!! We don't usually grow anything over winterbecause there isn't anything we want to grow,but this may change all

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-51435686003112341662011-05-12T11:54:00.000+09:002011-05-14T05:48:51.788+09:00

Basking in the spring sunlight,blissfully unaware of those strolling around the park looking at the cherry blossoms. Well until three littlies came along looking for turtles!! 4 then 3 ..... and eventually none! The bigger turtles at the back is actually loosing his shell, it looks rather sore....like a broken finger nail. I wonder if it hurts. Take a look at others Chilled Out!

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-75860522154715735582011-05-10T15:09:00.001+09:002011-05-10T15:11:36.807+09:00

On Saturday while hubby took the kids out for a bit I tackled the weeds in the front garden. Actually in comparison to years gone by there weren't that many, I am positively thinking that it is because I try and get them before they flower and subsequently turn to seed!! There will always be weeds but I'm hoping that my continual vigilance will keep them to a manageable amount. Then again the

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-75200082330548753902011-05-10T09:05:00.007+09:002011-05-10T11:56:47.092+09:00

Being a MotherIs one of the Hardest Jobs in the World This all important job comes with little or no training...There's no licence or degree to certify that you are properly educated and skillfully prepared to do the job. Unlike most careers, motherhood is one full of emotional ups and downs.No-one is more important than those you are incharge of.Every mistake, slip-up or decision can have you

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-15428785392831736512011-05-04T22:03:00.001+09:002011-05-04T22:10:29.918+09:00

April is easily summed by the word Patience. My daughter started school, in a foreign country the whole thing is foreign to me to say the least!!There is lots that I don't understand and so much more that I find plain ridiculous.I have to learn to bite my tongue. I love furniture made from cedar wood but I suffer with hayfever from the pollen. I become very irritable because it is physically

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-77798767808631947182011-04-27T16:38:00.001+09:002011-04-27T17:17:30.098+09:00

Mr KamakiriPraying Mantis Your razor sharp claws,Your Star Wars like head,The blood (?) in your face,Never cease to amaze us. You sit patiently while we observe ever detail,from top to bottom and back again.You turn your head as if to say"What are you looking at"! You escape,we chase"I've got him"! someone yellsand so it begins again"It's my turn!" Thankyou for coming to our gardenPlease pass

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-289214769019848702011-04-27T13:42:00.001+09:002011-04-27T14:26:17.256+09:00

What could be the best Saturday morning entertainment for a six year old girl?   All you can eat strawberry picking!!! We've never taken the kids to strawberry picking simply because it becomes very expensive when there are five of you to pay for,and it ultimately only occupies one hour of the day, including the drive there and home!!! Shizuoka prefecture has lots and lots of places from East to

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-91037208904748416302011-04-27T08:03:00.000+09:002011-04-27T08:03:08.767+09:00

 The major thoroughfares around town right now are full of colour, the streets are all lined with Hana Mizuki (American Dogwood).In full bloom they are simply stunning,and when kilometer after kilometer of roadside plantings are the Dogwood it really is an uplifting sight. We have a large established pink American Dogwood in our front garden,this year it is actually covered in blooms and it is

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-29389851972905497432011-04-24T17:28:00.002+09:002011-04-24T19:28:27.812+09:00

Hot Cross BunsForget chocolate and bunnies,Easter wouldn't be Easter without Hot Cross Buns. These buns are so easy to make,to prove it this is the photo of the first buns that I EVER made!Go ahead try it, and don't wait until next year. Orange & Cinnamon Hot Cross Buns 1 Cup=250ml 3 level teaspoons of dry yeast1/2 Cup milk3 Cups plain flour1/2 teaspoon salt60g butter, softened1/3Cup sugar1/2

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-60962603755922561092011-04-20T21:53:00.000+09:002011-04-20T21:53:16.305+09:00

Flannel Flower Just like a Flannel flowerSimple,unassumingand yet exotic(a nice way of summing up living in a foreign country!!) My blog is an honest reflection of me, no frills, no put ons and no pretending. I write from the heart, what's on my mind and what's happening in our lives. I share the things that are important to me and those things that make me tick. I enjoy sharing my journey 

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-79426113297908327522011-04-18T09:35:00.002+09:002011-04-18T09:40:14.911+09:00

A little while back I wrote this, and mentioned how our hot water system was on the way out. We decided to change our gas hot water service to electric and replace our stove at the same time. I have never liked gas and now that our two year old is turning the stove on by himself I hate it even more.  Our aim was and still is at some point in the near future to install solar panels but our house

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-63340303233673297332011-04-15T22:56:00.002+09:002011-04-21T08:11:33.707+09:00

I thought I might try and do some more Luv at First Bite posts. These are recipes that we love and make regularly not new ones. If you have an alternatives on them let me know! As you like Egg 'Pie' This dish is similar to quiche but the base uses bread rather than pastry. Great for those out there who like my hubby don't like pastry!! It is very adaptable, add what you want and how much. The

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5936063101476345416.post-32200370644137291842011-04-13T23:54:00.004+09:002011-04-14T00:01:37.206+09:00

Yesterday I barely noticed youToday you grace our presenceand tomorrow before I've even had time to enjoy you you'll be gone You're a sign of new life,a new beginninga new starta hope for the year ahead Is it your simplicityyour fragilityor your beauty that warms our hearts? Year in year outyou return in full glorykick starting the yearand rejuvenating the soul Tomorrow you won't be herebut

achanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07061864051216906521noreply@blogger.com5